Introduction
Daniel M. Nakamura (born August 29, 1966), better known by his stage name Dan the Automator, is an American record producer from San Francisco, California. He is the founder of the publishing company Sharkman Music and the record label 75 Ark.
Early life
Nakamura was born in San Francisco, California. His parents spent time in Japanese internment camps as children. His father worked for the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and his mother taught at City College of San Francisco. As a child, he learned to play violin. While in high school, he became immersed in hip hop culture. He graduated from San Francisco State University.
Career
Nakamura started his career as a DJ when he was a teenager. After seeing the younger DJs DJ Qbert and Mix Master Mike performing live, he decided to focus on producing tracks.
His debut EP, Music to Be Murdered By, was released in 1989. He first gained national attention for his work on Kool Keith's 1996 album Dr. Octagonecologyst.
In 1999, Nakamura and Prince Paul formed the collaborative project Handsome Boy Modeling School, assuming the alter egos Nathaniel Merriweather and Chest Rockwell, respectively. In that year, he joined with Del the Funky Homosapien and Kid Koala to form Deltron 3030. He produced Gorillaz's 2001 debut album, Gorillaz.
He is one half of Got a Girl, along with actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
He composed the score for the 2019 comedy film Booksmart. The soundtrack album was released on Lakeshore Records in 2019.
Discography
Studio albums
- A Much Better Tomorrow (2000)
- Booksmart: Score by Dan the Automator (2019)
Compilation albums
- Wanna Buy a Monkey? (2002)
- Dan the Automator Presents 2K7 (2006)
EPs
- Music to Be Murdered By (1989)
- King of the Beats (1990)
- A Better Tomorrow (1996)
Singles
- "Bear Witness III (Once Again)" (2002)
- "Rapper's Delight" (2009)
Productions
- Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst (1996)
- Cornershop - When I Was Born for the 7th Time (1997)
- Kalyanji–Anandji - Bombay the Hard Way: Guns, Cars and Sitars (1998)
- Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Acme (1998)
- Handsome Boy Modeling School - So... How's Your Girl? (1999)
- Primal Scream - XTRMNTR (2000)
- Deltron 3030 - Deltron 3030 (2000)
- Gorillaz -Gorillaz (2001)
- Lovage - Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By (2001)
- Ben Lee - Hey You. Yes You. (2002)
- Galactic - Ruckus (2003)
- Handsome Boy Modeling School - White People (2004)
- Head Automatica - Decadence (2004)
- Peeping Tom - Peeping Tom (2006)
- Men Without Pants - Naturally (2008)
- Anaïs Croze - The Love Album (2008)
- Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (2009)
- Dredg - Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy (2011)
- Miles Kane - Colour of the Trap (2011)
- Kasabian - Velociraptor! (2011)
- DRC Music - Kinshasa One Two (2011)
- Pillowfight - Pillowfight (2013)
- Deltron 3030 - Event 2 (2013)
- Got a Girl - I Love You but I Must Drive Off This Cliff Now (2014)
- Exodus - Blood In, Blood Out (2014)
- Dr. Octagon - Moosebumps: An Exploration Into Modern Day Horripilation (2018)